Severe Persecution in the East, in the Year 718

There was now considerable quiet in the western countries, but in the East disturbances began to arise; for about the year 718, Haumar,* King of the Saracens, issued bloody decrees for the persecution of the Christians. He forbade wine, according to the laws of Mohammed, which, however, did not matter much; but the most grievous of all was this: he tried to force the Christians to apostatize and deny Christ; he promised exemption from tribute and taxes to those who would forsake Christ and hold to Mohammed; on the other hand, he threatened to put to death all those who would cling steadfastly to Christ. In the meantime he oppressed them with unbearable burdens, and took the lives of some by various torments.**

He also made a law that the testimony of a Christian should not be valid, and should not be accepted against a Saracen. [n326-1] In short, it is stated that by virtue of these decrees many of the innocent and defenseless Christians became martyrs; but for want of faithful historians of that time, the names of these martyrs have not come down to us, except a few, as will appear.

NOTE. Above all, it must be observed in this account of the eastern martyrs that, as regards open churches or communities, those of the East had long before separated from those of the West, that is, from the Roman church, because they would not be subject to the power and dominion of the pope of Rome, who, already in the year 606, had been declared head of all the churches; but they would by no means recognize or accept him as such. This separation, in the course of time, grew so great that, as far as we know, they have not united again even to the present day.

Moreover, it is established by various writers that, besides these separated churches, called the Greek, there are other churches in the East, chiefly in the region of Thessalonica, which agree in all respects with the Anabaptists of the present day, and have held such faith and practice without interruption from the time of the apostles; of this, however, we will speak more fully in the sixteenth century, in connection with baptism.

This being the case, it would not be surprising if in this persecution of the Christians in the East not only this or that single person, but, what is more, very many true believers were martyred and put to death for the true faith in Jesus Christ, and for the sincere practice of the precepts of the Gospel. Nevertheless, we can tell no more than what the ancient writers have left us, and will therefore proceed accordingly, adding, whenever we think it necessary, our own opinion in the margin or in a note.